Oil-in-ice drills planned

Monday

Feb 18, 2013 at 10:20 PM

The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center is planning to conduct a pollution recovery drill through Friday in Moran Bay. The overall objectives are to test new equipment and techniques designed for ice conditions plus provide training to responding personnel and Incident Command Operations. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center will be conducting an oil-in-ice demonstration to further explore current capabilities and recovery tactics. This exercise will build on the previous knowledge base and utilize lessons learned, in the development of new response procedures. The project is designed to identify equipment, tactics and techniques that would work in both Arctic and Great Lakes environments.

Mike Fornes

By MIKE FORNESmike@cheboygantribune.com ST. IGNACE — A four-day field exercise is planned for this week by U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Ignace that will include oil-in-ice response equipment operations followed by two days of vessel deployments in open water with ice conditions. The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center is planning to conduct a pollution recovery drill through Friday in Moran Bay. The overall objectives are to test new equipment and techniques designed for ice conditions plus provide training to responding personnel and Incident Command Operations. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center will be conducting an oil-in-ice demonstration to further explore current capabilities and recovery tactics. This exercise will build on the previous knowledge base and utilize lessons learned, in the development of new response procedures. The project is designed to identify equipment, tactics and techniques that would work in both Arctic and Great Lakes environments. The exercise will include several vessels, remotely operated underwater vehicles, aerial balloons, and helicopters, the Coast Guard said in a news release.